American Cancer Fund Partners with Dunellen Skylight Theatre Productions on Video to Boost Awareness and Donations
National cancer organization American Cancer Fund partners with a non-profit theater company on a video to differentiate it from other charities at a critical time when new tax laws are blunting small charitable donations.
HILLSBOROUGH, N.J., Oct. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- When a person is diagnosed with cancer, the search for relevant, clear information can be daunting and overwhelming. The American Cancer Fund® (ACF), an organization that aggregates information to educate, empower and support people with cancer, has partnered with Dunellen Skylight Theatre Productions on a video to raise awareness and boost much needed donations.
The video is the outcome of a creative partnership between two non-profits with distinctly different missions. For ACF, which derives nearly all of its funding from individual donations, the video is an important marketing tool to differentiate it from other cancer charities at a critical time when new tax laws are blunting small charitable donations while demand grows for information and support. For Skylight, the project was an opportunity for its actors to practice their craft by performing testimonials from ACF clients. The video is featured on the ACF website http://www.americancancerfund.org.
"Many people have no idea how to search for information after a cancer diagnosis. Some want information on trials, treatment centers and local doctors," said Henry Stryder, president of ACF. "No single organization can provide all the answers, so the American Cancer Fund helps clients filter through the clutter to find exactly what they need. We hope the video will encourage donations and help us spread the word to anyone who might benefit from our services."
The ACF video was produced pro bono by PL Communications LLC and rock and soul charity band GoodWorks, both of Scotch Plains, N.J.
ACF Serves 1.5 Million Annually
The ACF dates back to the 1960s when it was a number of disparate organizations. In the late 90s, Henry and wife Shari Stryder recognized the internet as a tool to consolidate these resources into a single website branded as the American Cancer Fund. Both had endured the personal loss of family and friends to different cancers, so they financed and managed ACF as a second act in retirement, relaunching it nearly 20 years ago.
Today, the ACF serves 1.5 million people annually through its website, which receives up to 5,000 page hits a day. The organization maintains a small staff of professionals across the country to serve its clients and is funded primarily through donations. It also generates funding through the sale of sunscreen formulated for ACF and sold through the website, and several charity 5K run events.
The ACF "Kissing Off Cancer™ Challenge" is a social media campaign that asks people to take a picture kissing a loved one, post it to social media with the hashtags #kissoffcancer #kissingoffcancer #ACF #kiss, and then donate to ACF. Like the popular "ice bucket challenge," ACF hopes it will raise awareness and boost donations.
Cancer Impacts Everyone
According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 40% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetimes. More than 15,000 children and adolescents 0-19 years old were diagnosed with cancer in 2017.
"Cancer is among the leading causes of death in the world, so everyone is impacted in some way, either directly or indirectly," said Shari Stryder. "The American Cancer Fund gathers, sorts and streamlines the endless volumes of cancer information on the internet so we can deliver customized, one-on-one support to our clients and their families."
About American Cancer Fund
The ACF is dedicated to the education, support and empowerment of those diagnosed with cancer by organizing and clarifying information from various online sources and organizations. ACF provides free clear, independent information and research to enable patients and their families to make smarter choices for cancer treatment with an emphasis on dignity, functionality and cure. The ACF also provides cancer research grants to organizations that work on cancer cures, treatment, detection, and research projects, and have shown the ability to effectively use the funds they receive.
For more information and to watch the video, visit http://www.americancancerfund.org. The video can also be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/0KpyJobi5SA.
About Dunellen Skylight Theatre Productions
Dunellen Skylight Theatre Productions is a 501 (C) 3 Non-Profit Organization that showcases quality theatrical presentations with a mission to entertain, inspire, educate, and advocate through the arts. Located in Dunellen, N.J., Skylight strives to create an environment where local performers, directors, playwrights, and other artisans can display and cultivate their talents. For more information, visit http://www.dunellenskylighttheatre.com/.
SOURCE American Cancer Fund
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